Fall in June? Well... I just had an inspiration, dropped what I was doing, and created it. I love decorating the house with miniature squashes and pumpkins, but I do not like throwing them away afterwards. Problem solved! The tutorial below will help you, and in no time at all you will have a fun decorating project for the harvest time. Can you think of all the people who might enjoy these as gifts? Supplies: Yellow and green felt or wool Green Floral wire Quilting thread Needle Decorator … [Read more...] about Fall Decor Tutorial
quick projects
Black, White and Red Table Runner – V.2
Just finished the second table runner using those black and white blocks I've been saving for the past few years. I made this one just as the first one (see the other table runner here), but using three other blocks with same accent red fabric by Moda for this year's Valentine's. This one I stitched in the ditch only. I can't believe I had enough of the same scrap fabric for the corner yo-yos. I'd much rather use sample blocks for smaller projects than put them in a quilt. I do, … [Read more...] about Black, White and Red Table Runner – V.2
Thread Bin
Keeping my quilt room tidy (but not when I am designing a quilt!) is much easier when I use a thread bin by my sewing machine. I got mine many years ago while I still lived in Maryland, in a gift shop. At first, instead of pieces of thread inside the little bin, one would often find my little scissors and the seam ripper in it, very handy while working at the sewing machine. Now, my right hand is trained to stuff all pieces of thread I cut into the bin which sits about 6 or 8 inches away from … [Read more...] about Thread Bin
New Old Love
This pic looks too red. The colors are rose, mauve, etc. A few years ago I purchased a small kit from Quilts, Etc. in Sandy, Utah, for a scrappy heart wall hanging called Old Love. Last week, during our retreat, I pieced the heart. I just finished the wall hanging, which looks nothing like the kit, as I got creative as I worked on the project. For starters, the original pattern had scallops appliqued around the heart. Those were replaced by a few rows of this awesome ribbon I found at Hobby … [Read more...] about New Old Love
Black and White + Red = Table runner!
Back in April I posted pictures of six black and white blocks I pieced during a block of the month project. I had no idea what to do with them, as I was not inclined to turn them into a quilt. Cathie wrote in her comment that I might think of using a color to add some 'pop' to the blocks. Well, I turned them into table runners and used a red and white fabric to liven things up. The first table runner is completed. I used black rick-rack on the long sides, and decorated the ends with … [Read more...] about Black and White + Red = Table runner!
Cool little bags
A few weeks ago I won these fat quarters from Annie at Annie's Ruby Slipperz, and during our quilt retreat last week I finally had time to work with them. I turned them into awesome bags, using the Smart Bag product by QuiltSmart. Aren't they cute? They are easy and quick to make, and you can use all sorts of fun trims to decorate them: buttons, ric-rac, ribbons, fabric flowers... You sew the liner and the outer shell at the same time using two fat quarters per bag.That is it! I will fill them … [Read more...] about Cool little bags